How do you handle it when life throws you a curveball?
By lumenmom
@lumenmom (1986)
United States
December 6, 2010 11:35am CST
I wanted to put a link to the article I read in this posting but this pc will not copy /paste. However, if you google the words "brother dies liver transplant" you will get several articles to choose from to read. The bottom line is this a case where life has truly thrown this family a curveball and in the process it tests the very foundation of their faith in what they believe. I thought it was so beautiful how the father delivered the news to Chad by saying "I've got some bad news. Ryan's gone, but we still serve a good God" Sometimes we think our faith is strong until it's put to the test. I don't know if I would have been so strong, so brave in the midst of a crisis like this.
Another similar crisis happened a couple of years ago here at my church when a young girl from out of town joined us for a mere 4 months and volunteered to play a roll in a Christmas play. Unfortunately something went wrong and she fell 30 ft to land on her head and she died a few days later. When her family came into town the man who had done her harness was so broken that he could not hold his head up. The first thing her father said to him was "hold your head up, you did nothing wrong" and he embraced him trying to make him feel better.
As I think about these stories I am curious to know if any of you have been in or are aware of someone who has gone through something catastrophic and kept a sound hold onto their faith?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@shattered (1728)
• Philippines
7 Dec 10
When life throws you a curveball, hit it with your bat. Curve balls are only thrown in baseball, you do your best to hit it. If you miss, try again on the next pitch. I know it is easier said than done, but it can be done the people who have a strong faith build on solid ground can take curveballs and take it smiling. One of our church leaders lost a family 2 years ago to lupus, but he stayed strong in his faith. He continued to be who he is. We can see the difficulty in his life but, you can't do anything but be uplifted because of his faith. He persevered and continued living a life full of faith.
@lumenmom (1986)
• United States
7 Dec 10
I love that advice. I'll have to use that sometime when I want to just tuck my tail and run. I am always encouraged by the stories of people who go through lifes trials yet they keep standing. It's during the times of adversity that you really can see the foundation your faith is on. And even those who get tired and want to give up, most do get a second wind to keep on going.
1 person likes this
@shattered (1728)
• Philippines
8 Dec 10
I agree. Adversity can either shatter you mask and hypocrisy or it can build you up into someone you never thought you could be. we gain strength when we are challenged not when we are going through routine.
When your at the bottom of the pit, the worse thing for you is to stay where you are right? Why not try to climb out of the pit? It is really is amazing and uplifting to see people rise over their trials.
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
7 Dec 10
All you can do is take life as it comes to you. There will always be a curveball in life. We can't see everything that will happen. Facing the challenges that come our way and dealing with them in a positive way is the best that we can do.@lumenmom (1986)
• United States
7 Dec 10
In the book "The Art Of Happiness" it talks about seeing everything that happens as the best thing that could have happened because it will lead you to something better. I think it takes a lot of practice to see things that way, yet to gives you a better perspective from which to analyze your situation. It helps to be determined not to be defeated by the challenges that do come our way.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
7 Dec 10
lumenmon I am really about out of faith, here it is another C hristmas and I am s till here in this tiresome retirement home. oh the domino effect In sept of 2008 my son lost his job, we ran out of money,got behind in rent so of course eviction. a net friend of my son really promised to pay three months of rent for an apartment in Antioch Ca and so we thought well he will find a job by that time but come Nov15 my son contacted the manager of the apt. we were going to and we were so shocked as this traitorous friend had asked the manager to tear up the written agreement so now we truly were homeless. thats why I came here the day vefore thanksgiving o f that year and now here I am .I was so thrilled when my son got a part time job three months ago and now the bloody boss cut him back to one day a week so here we are again,hes in gov,sponsored apartment with three other men, so they have a home to give to future employers.yes this economy has disrupted so many lives here in too expensive california. oh I am greatful to have a place to live but I miss our Christmas pasts. but I am alive so at 83 I guess I must be greatful but my heart hurts thinking of past christmases. SO how am I to keep up my faith in spite of all thats happened? I have had a strong hold on my faith but I m still a bit frightened that nothing will ever change.
@lumenmom (1986)
• United States
7 Dec 10
Hatley I am so humbled by your candor and willingness to be so transparent and speak of your disappointments. I soooo feel your pain in that right now my husband, daughter and I are once again in the same sorry rut we we've been in almost every year since she has been born (2002. The only good Christmas we have had was last year because I got called to work for the Census the first week of December plus was able to do a clinical trial study that paid almost $1,000.00. Now here we are again homeless, carless, freezing, begging (you know the drill). My husband is bi-polar and is mainly the cause of our many ups and downs. It's harder and harder for me to deal with it because of my health problems and I really feel bad for my daughter who is 8. Just last week she asked me if I thought Santa would bring her at least one present. There are many many things to be thankful for, and I do focus on them often but the pain of our situation is still there. I do still have faith in God but I get very tired and from time to time I resent family who are content to leave us here when I have helped them so mcuh over the years. Like you I am afraid nothing will change in fact several people tell me it won't til I leave my husband and sadly that's probably the truth.
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
7 Dec 10
I just try and roll with it and hope I try and come out unscathed. Yet you never really do with many things. There are a lot of times where there is something that is planned, with hopes and dreams but then it is really going to end in an instant. Yet, life goes on, whether or not you are ready to. It might seem harsh, but the harshest things are often times the truest.
